欧盟考虑撇开英国制定预算方案

EU officials have begun work on a plan to create a long-term, seven-year budget without the UK in a move that reflects mounting frustration that Britain’s demand for a spending freeze cannot be reconciled with the rest of the bloc, the world’s largest economy.

欧盟(EU)官员开始撇开英国着手制定一个长期的7年预算方案。此举显示，由于英国冻结支出的要求无法与欧盟（世界最大经济体）其他成员国相调和，欧盟的失望情绪日趋高涨。

EU officials and national diplomats have been studying the legal and technical feasibility of devising such a budget, say people familiar with the discussions, ahead of a Brussels summit on Thursday, when the EU’s 27 heads of government will try to reach an agreement.

知情人士表示，在本周四布鲁塞尔方面举行峰会前夕，欧盟官员和各成员国外交官一直在研究一个问题：制定这样一个预算方案在法律和技术上有多大可行性。在这次峰会上，欧盟27个成员国的政府首脑将努力达成一项协议。

Prospects for the summit have darkened as several diplomats have concluded that it will be impossible to accommodate the UK’s demands, and are predicting failure.

多名外交官断言，迁就英方的要求是不可能的，峰会也会以失败告终。这为这次峰会的前景蒙上了一层阴影。

“Because of the British stance people are looking, both in national capitals and in Brussels, for a solution at 26. It’s being looked at from a financial and legal point of view, one official said.

一名官员表示：“鉴于英方的立场，欧盟一些成员国的政府官员和布鲁塞尔方面的官员正在考虑撇开英国，达成一项其余26个欧盟成员国同意的方案。他们正在从财务和法律角度考虑这种做法的可行性。

The plan might be a negotiating ploy to try to put more pressure on David Cameron, the UK premier, to compromise.

该计划可能是一种谈判技巧，目的是加大对英国首相戴维·卡梅伦(David Cameron)的压力，迫其妥协。

Officials acknowledge that such an approach – if pursued – would be rife with complexities. It could also have grave consequences for the UK’s already fragile relationship with the rest of the EU.

官员们承认，如果采取上述做法，将遭遇各种麻烦，也可能严重影响英国与欧盟其他成员国业已脆弱的关系。

The UK government yesterday said it was “sure the idea was being discussed in Brussels but rejected a budget deal without Britain as “not acceptable.

英国政府昨天表示，它“确信布鲁塞尔方面正在就这种做法进行讨论，但表示没有英国参与的预算协议是“不可接受的。

Mr Cameron has taken an aggressive position in the debate over the budget, which will cover roughly €1,000bn in spending from 2014 to 2020, calling for a real-terms freeze from 2011 levels.

卡梅伦在预算方案辩论中一直坚持强硬立场，该预算方案将涵盖从2014年至2020年约1万亿欧元的支出。卡梅伦呼吁将支出水平实质性冻结在2011年的水平。

Sweden has taken a similar position to the UK, and other countries could yet thwart a deal. France’s President Fran ois Hollande said on Saturday that “above all, spending on the common agricultural policy must be preserved.

瑞典的立场与英国类似，还有一些成员国也可能阻挠协议达成。法国总统弗朗索瓦·奥朗德(Fran ois Hollande)上周六表示，“首先，共同农业政策方面的支出必须保留。

Mr Cameron’s officials say the chances of a compromise deal this week have increased from about 10 per cent to nearer 30 per cent, but believe the most likely outcome is that negotiations will continue next year.

卡梅伦政府的官员们表示，本周达成一个妥协性协议的可能性已由约10%增至近30%，但他们认为，最有可能出现的结果是，谈判会延续到明年。

The alternative budget being considered in Brussels would be done on an annual basis, which, under EU rules, requires qualified majority votes. By contrast, the traditional long-term budget requires unanimity.

布鲁塞尔方面正在考虑的备选预算方案可能将是1年期的。根据欧盟规定，这样的方案只需赢得资格多数票(qualified majority votes)即可通过。而传统的长期预算方案则需各方一致同意方可通过。